It is located in a small nature reserve that contains a number of rare plant species, on the 316 m above sea level (NN) high Tomberg hill.

Around 1000, Count Palatine Ezzo of Lotharingia and his wife Matilda, a sister of Emperor Otto III, resided at the Tomburg.

After a turbulent history, the castle lost its military importance beginning from the 14th century, due to the introduction of black powder in the artillery.

It was still used as a fall-back position by the von Tomburgs who by that time acted as mere robber barons, like many former noble families during the decline of the Middle Ages.

A stylized Tomberg is depicted on the packaging of the sugar beet syrup produced by a factory in nearby Meckenheim.